Ne Win

Ne Win (10 July 1910-5 December 2002) was President of Burma from 2 March 1962 to 9 November 1981, succeeding Win Maung and preceding San Yu. He was also Prime Minister of Burma from 29 October 1958 to 4 April 1960 (interrupting U Nu's terms) and from 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 (succeeding U Nu and preceding Sein Win) and Chairman of the Burma Socialist Programme Party from 4 July 1962 to 23 July 1988, preceding Sein Lwin.

Biography
Ne Win was born in Paungdale, Burma, British India on 10 July 1910, and he studied at the University of Rangoon before joining the Thakins nationalist movement. There, he met Aung San, who made him commander-in-chief of his Burma National Army from 1943 to 1945. He retained this position in the newly-created Burmese army from 1949 to 1972, leading its campaigns against rebellious ethnic guerrilla movements. Briefly called in to head a caretaker government as Prime Minister from 1958 to 1960, in 1962 he deposed U Nu. He abolished the parliamentary system and proclaimed the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. He went on to expel 300,000 foreigners (mainly Indian and Chinese) in a disastrous attempt to gain control over the Burmese economy. Constantly harassed by Karen guerrilla forces and widespread domestic opposition, his ruthlessness alone ensured the survival of his regime. His influence in Burma remained strong even after his retirement in 1981. In 1988, he was believed to have orchestrated the 8888 Uprising from behind the scenes, and his influence on the ruling military junta began to wane after 1998. He died in 2002.